[OPEN, MINGLE] 'cause not all who wander are lookin' for the exit

[pocketspa]

Who: Taako, Lup, perhaps you-- invited or not?
What: Taako's been trying to think of a good way to have a party now that ice hell is over, and the disappearance of his sister's husband and his brother in law sounds like as good a time as any to start denying bad feelings and cheering up his goddamn twin.
Where: Around Horny House, aka Imported House 5-1
When: April 11th
Warnings: Alcohol, food, some stupidity most likely.

The night of the 10th, anyone who's friends Taako or Lup-- especially if you're friends with Lup-- will get a text from Taako. It reads:

hey
come over tomorrow at noon
i took down a totally massive animal and im having a barbecue
also bring a gift for lup
dont tell her dont ask questions dont care what it is just do it
your prize is a significant amount of roasted whateverthefuck that i have tested to be sure it will not kill you
also if you dont show up im going to come get you so see ya then

And sure enough, the next day, behind horny house is a large pit filled with rocks and... something or other spit roasted over it. Whatever it is happens to be very, very big, but you can probably see the smoke before you see the animal. Most of the tables in the house have been dragged out onto the lawn around it, covered in mismatched cups, containers of water and plates of fruit, and something lovingly labelled 'SPACE JUICE (CONTAINS ALCOHOL)' that is being served in a large punch bowl. It's bright blue and smells like lighter fluid, so it's pretty unlikely you needed to be warned that there's alcohol in it. One table simply has a sign that says 'PUT GIFTS HERE', which is pretty self explanatory. There also seems to be music coming from discernibly Somewhere, though it's completely unclear as to where-- seeing as the guy running it is magic, it might actually just be coming from the sun. None of that is especially important right now. What is important is this:

Everyone here is legally required to go care about Lup, or Taako's going to punch you in the head. And not even with magic- just with his little fists. So do it, punk.

OOC: This is a MINGLE LOG- please put up toplevels and tag around! While Taako had people he invited, it's pretty damn easy to see this going down, and if you play by the rules and say nice things to his very sad sister he won't kick you out. Have fun!!!

Comments

[restinglichface]

Happy for all of us, you dork. You're in this life too, promise. And like, I don't wanna hardcore spoil you, but you're way happy too.

[The happiest that she's seen Lucretia in a long time. Not that Lup's going to plant ideas of what's in store for her, but once she decides to take control of her life, it's going to be absolutely incredible. And this is only year one. They have so many beautiful years to come.]

So c'mon, lay it on me. [The shots are forgotten, Lup's fingernails tapping out a beat on the table.]

What sounds fun to you? Doesn't matter how big or small.

[madamdirector]

[ Oh, Lup. Lucretia's still smiling, gooey and sappy and she doesn't even care. Of course Lup would make sure she wasn't left behind. Of course she'd go out of her way to reassure Lucretia that she gets a happy ending, too.

And it is a really, really nice thought. That her life gets to be about more than fighting the Hunger. That after so long, they all finally get a chance to relax and just be. ]

Hmm. [ She taps her fingers against her empty glass, thinking. ] I guess...I guess no one will need the Bureau anymore.

[ She frowns. ]

I guess I could just...retire? Spend my, uh, golden years taking midday naps and learning to crochet?

[ That doesn't seem quite right, though. It doesn't seem like her. ]

[restinglichface]

[Is it any surprise the elf pulls a face at that?]

Retire?! At your age? Sweetie, no.

[Lucretia has so many years ahead of her, no matter how much had already been robbed, and Lup wasn't about to let the other woman play the old lady when they both know she's so much more than that.]

What about travel? We could really get out an' see the place.

[madamdirector]

[ Lucretia just gives her a look, and doesn't remind her that her age is nearing twice what would be considered a good long run for any human.

But she knows what Lup means. And she's right. Lucretia hums, brushing her thumb idly against her glass as she considers it. ]

Travel just for the hell of it? Without needing to record the history of any doomed worlds or scramble to find the Light before the Hunger comes or try to stave off the end of the universe?

[ She taps her fingers on the table thoughtfully. ]

I could fuck with that.

[restinglichface]

[Lup's grin comes in an instant.]

Fuck yeah you could. We should. Just you an' me. A real proper girls' trip. Wouldn't that be somethin'?

[After everything they've been through? The decade of impossible loneliness? They deserve it.]

The rest can come after. We'll start with easy, work our way up from there. To be fair, if I wasn't working for Bird Mom, I'd wouldn't have shit figured out either. But reaping's a full time gig, so we keep pretty busy.

[madamdirector]

[ That actually gets a smile out of her, soft and happy. After ten long years alone, ten years keeping secrets and working day and night to keep the Bureau running and try to find the Relics before time runs out...yeah. A girls' trip with Lup sounds wonderful. ]

It would be perfect.

[ It's been just long enough since her last shot that it doesn't seem like the worst thing in the world for her to reach for the pitcher again, carefully filling up her glass and then Lup's. ]

To us, Lup.

We're pretty baller.

[restinglichface]

And that's just fact.

[Lup tips her shot glass to Lucretia, spilling just a touch of her shot, before she's throwing it back in one quick swoop.

This isn't exactly right, even surrounded and supported by her family, but this is just one step towards their happy future back home. Whatever happens, their time in Hadriel is coming to an end. And even as desperately as she wants to leave, Lup knows she would regret not seeing it through. But they're close, closer and closer every day.

Soon, she has to keep reminding herself. One day at a time.]

To us.

[madamdirector]

To us.

[ She clinks her glass against Lup's, giggling a little when a few drops splash out, and downs it, slamming her glass down on at the table at the same time as the elf.

It's not perfect, and they've still got a ways to go. But Lup is here, smiling and tipsy and not huddled up in her room alone. And Lucretia, of course, is tipsier still.

She reaches across the table and grabs Lup's hand. ]

Come on, let's go cause some trouble.